Many years in the making, the State Department has just announced that it has cleared Israel to acquire 50 new Advanced F-15 derivatives and major updates for some of Israel’s existing F-15 fleet. These aircraft are designated F-15IA for new-build airframes that are based on the F-15EX and F-15I+ for the 25 F-15I Ra’am Strike Eagle derivatives that received upgrade packages to bring them more in line with the F-15IA configuration. As it sits, a total of 75 F-15s would be involved if the $18.82B Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal goes through and is fully executed. Back in April, we reported that just such a deal was finally on the verge of being approved.
The details of the potential sale from the official press release reads as follows:
“The Government of Israel has requested to buy up to fifty (50) new F-15IA multi-role fighter aircraft, as well as Mid-Life Update modification kits for its existing twenty-five (25) F-15I multi-role fighter aircraft; one hundred twenty (120) F110-GE-129 engines; ninety (90) Advanced Display Core Processors II; seventy-five (75) APG-82(V)1 Active Electronically Scanned Array radars; fifty (50) AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN navigation pods with containers; three-hundred twenty (320) LAU-128 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile launchers; twenty-five (25) M61A Vulcan cannons; and one hundred eighty (180) Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System devices with M-Code. Also included are Cartridge Actuated Devices and Propellant Actuated Devices; Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems; APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems; KIV-77 Mode 4/5 IFF cryptographic appliques; AN/PYQ-10 Simple Key Loaders; impulse cartridges, chaff, and flares; integration and test support and equipment; aircraft and munitions support and support equipment; secure communications equipment, precision navigation, and cryptographic devices; classified software development, delivery, and support; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; major and minor modifications, maintenance, and maintenance support; facilities and construction support; transportation and airlift support; classified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; warranties; studies and surveys; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $18.82 billion. Deliveries are estimated to begin in 2029.”
F-15I Ra’am on the apron. (IAF) The initiative to revitalize Israel’s F-15 fleet goes back many years, but the supposed mix of new aircraft and upgrades has fluctuated over time. It was always thought that the IAF would opt to purchase new F-15s to serve alongside the air arm’s growing fleet of F-35I Adirs, as they offer a special complimentary set of capabilities within the IAF, and all variants — F-15A/B/C/D Baz and F-15I Ra’am — remain a foundational element of the force.
F-15s of all variants have served as Israel’s primary long-range strike weapon, along with fulfilling air defense and standard attack roles, as well as acting as forward networking and command and control nodes. The F-15s are also well suited for carrying outsized weapons, including air-launched ballistic missiles, over long distances. The now very dated F-15 Baz airframes took up the ground attack mission well before the F-15E Strike Eagle was a reality and today deeply upgraded examples continue to serve as multi-role platforms. Even the F-15Is are now aging, with the last example delivered 25 years ago. Overall, the F-15 fleet is seen as a precious commodity within the IAF.
The news of the F-15 FMS approval comes at a very controversial time for Israel, and America’s military support of it, after many months of bombardment and military operations in Gaza that have killed thousands of people. The operation came after the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas launched an unprecedented and horrific attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023. It also comes at a time when tensions between Israel and Iran have never been greater. An impending reprisal attack on Israel is now expected to come at any time following the assassination of Hamas’s top political leader while he was visiting Tehran.
F-15A/B/C/D Bazs in action. (AMIT AGRONOV) The press release about the F-15IA/I+ deal from the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) also states:
“The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.
Incorporating F-15IAs into the Israel Air Force’s fleet of fighter aircraft will enhance Israel’s interoperability with U.S. systems and bolster Israel’s aerial capabilities to meet current and future enemy threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats. Israel will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
Other approved sales of weaponry to Israel that were announced today include the following:
The F-15s will likely replace the nearly 50-year-old F-15A/B/C/D Bazs, while also reinforcing the F-15I fleet for the back half of its service life and bringing it more in line with the F-15IA configuration for commonality and future supportability.
USAF F-15EX. (USAF) This proposed sale would be huge for Boeing as it will greatly reinforce the Advanced F-15 production line that is now turning out F-15EXs for the USAF, which is currently looking to buy 98 of the jets, but that could be expanded further. So the IAF’s order would be over half the size of the entire USAF one, not counting the upgrade kits that will be needed to modify the existing F-15Is, a process that will take around eight years, according to the DSCA release. It’s also possible that Israel could procure fewer new-build F-15IAs than the full number approved. In the past, 25 airframes were widely referenced as the number in play, but considering how old the Bazs are getting, and the fact that the F-15EX will serve for decades with the USAF, a larger buy does make sense.
It’s also worth noting that Indonesia and Poland also have a high interest in obtaining F-15EXs, among other international prospects, and Japan is upgrading its F-15Js into a ‘super interceptor’ configuration with Boeing’s help.
Now that the Biden Administration has approved the deal, Congress will have to, as well. Some will clearly protest it based on Israel’s recent actions, but it’s likely to be approved in the end.
Contact the author: tyler@twz.com